LONDON: More than 500 of Twitter’s advertisers have paused spending on the micro blogging site since Elon Musk’s takeover last year, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with its ad business.
The social media company’s daily revenue on Jan. 17 was 40 percent lower than the same day a year ago, the report added.
The drop in the company’s revenue was first reported by technology newsletter Platformer on Tuesday.
Twitter did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ request for comment on both the media reports.
Since Musk took over Twitter last October, corporate advertisers have fled in response to the billionaire laying off thousands of employees and rushing a paid verification feature that resulted in scammers impersonating companies on Twitter.
The social media platform recently reversed its 2019 ban on political ads and said that it would relax advertising policy for “cause-based ads” in the United States and align its ad policy with TV and other media outlets.
Over 500 advertisers have paused spending on Twitter
https://arab.news/6p3pt
Over 500 advertisers have paused spending on Twitter
- Platform also reported 40% revenue drop compared to last year
Snap launches AR Souq in Saudi, expands regional AR Ramadan Mall
- Snap Souq features Najdi-inspired design and interactive brand activationsSnap Souq features Najdi-inspired design and interactive brand activations
- The mall returns for fifth year with new ‘districts’
DUBAI: Snap has launched the Snap Souq, an augmented reality experience designed to resemble a traditional Saudi souq, for the Ramadan season.
Snapchat users can access the virtual souq, which features Nadji architectural design, through a selfie lens that provides a digital key.
“For many of us, our strongest Ramadan memories are tied to evenings spent together, gathering, exploring, and discovering something new. Those moments shape how we connect, and that sense of discovery is deeply cultural,” said Abdulla Al-Hammadi, managing director for Saudi Arabia at Snap Inc.
He told Arab News the Snap Souq used “technology to scale that feeling without losing its essence, bringing discovery into a digital space that feels natural to today’s audiences.”
Each brand kiosk has a different design and features interactive gaming elements aimed at increasing user interaction beyond product browsing.
Although users cannot shop directly within the AR experience, Snap said the launch highlights the “importance of culturally aligned digital experiences” during Ramadan, as spending in the Kingdom typically increases by 35 percent during this period. Some 84 percent of users in the Kingdom have expressed interest in using AR to engage with products before purchasing, according to the company.
Brands taking part include NiceOne, Abdul Latif Jameel, Rama Clinics and Stars Smile.
“By reimagining the traditional Saudi souq through the Snapchat camera, we created a space where heritage, community, and modern discovery come together naturally,” said Al-Hammadi.
Snapchat has also brought back its AR Ramadan Mall for the fifth year. In 2025, the experience reached 16.8 million shoppers, driving a 30 percent increase in engagement time year-on-year.
This year, the mall includes five “districts,” each dedicated to a specific sector.
The new format is based on data obtained over several years and allows each category to have its own AR environment, creating a more focused and contextual approach to brand engagement.
“This approach moves away from a one-size-fits-all structure and instead supports deeper engagement by giving people the freedom to spend time in spaces that align more closely with what they are looking for,” explained Mohammed Bouarib, regional creative strategy and innovation lead at Snap Inc.
The mall features 11 brands across five categories — luxury, automotive, food and beverage, self-care and retail. They include YSL Beauty, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Nespresso, Puck, Neutrogena, Sensodyne, Centrum, Al‑Futtaim BYD & Denza, and MAX.
Snap Souq is only available in Saudi Arabia, while the AR Ramadan Mall is available across the Middle East. Both can be accessed through the Lens Explorer and the carousel feature on Snapchat until the first week of Eid.
